[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 115 (Tuesday, July 22, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H6597-H6601]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NIST REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2014
Mr. BUCSHON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 5035) to reauthorize the National Institute of Standards and
Technology, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 5035
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``NIST Reauthorization Act of
2014''.
SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) Fiscal Year 2014.--
(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to
the Secretary of Commerce $850,000,000 for the National
Institute of Standards and Technology for fiscal year 2014.
(2) Specific allocations.--Of the amount authorized by
paragraph (1)--
(A) $651,000,000 shall be for scientific and technical
research and services laboratory activities;
(B) $56,000,000 shall be for the construction and
maintenance of facilities; and
(C) $143,000,000 shall be for industrial technology
services activities, of which $128,000,000 shall be for the
Manufacturing Extension Partnership program under sections 25
and 26 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology
Act (15 U.S.C. 278k and 278l).
(b) Fiscal Year 2015.--
(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to
the Secretary of Commerce $855,800,000 for the National
Institute of Standards and Technology for fiscal year 2015.
(2) Specific allocations.--Of the amount authorized by
paragraph (1)--
(A) $670,500,000 shall be for scientific and technical
research and services laboratory activities;
(B) $55,300,000 shall be for the construction and
maintenance of facilities; and
(C) $130,000,000 shall be for industrial technology
services activities, of which $130,000,000 shall be for the
Manufacturing Extension Partnership program under sections 25
and 26 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology
Act (15 U.S.C. 278k and 278l).
SEC. 3. STANDARDS AND CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT.
Section 2 of the National Institute of Standards and
Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 272) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking
``authorized to take'' and inserting ``authorized to serve as
the President's principal adviser on standards policy
pertaining to the Nation's technological competitiveness and
innovation ability and to take'';
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking ``compare standards'' and
all that follows through ``Federal Government'' and inserting
``facilitate standards-related information sharing and
cooperation between Federal agencies''; and
(C) in paragraph (13), by striking ``Federal, State, and
local'' and all that follows through ``private sector'' and
inserting ``technical standards activities and conformity
assessment activities of Federal, State, and local
governments with private sector''; and
(2) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (21), by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon;
(B) by redesignating paragraph (22) as paragraph (24); and
(C) by inserting after paragraph (21) the following:
``(22) participate in and support scientific and technical
conferences;
``(23) perform pre-competitive measurement science and
technology research in partnership with institutions of
higher education and industry to promote United States
industrial competitiveness; and''.
SEC. 4. VISITING COMMITTEE ON ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY.
Section 10 of the National Institute of Standards and
Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by striking ``15 members'' and inserting ``not fewer
than 11 members'';
(B) by striking ``at least 10'' and inserting ``at least
two-thirds''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following: ``The Committee may
consult with the National Research Council in making
recommendations regarding general policy for the
Institute.''; and
(2) in subsection (h)(1), by striking ``, including the
Program established under section 28,''.
SEC. 5. POLICE AND SECURITY AUTHORITY.
Section 15 of the National Institute of Standards and
Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278e) is amended--
(1) by striking ``of the Government; and'' and inserting
``of the Government;''; and
(2) by striking ``United States Code.'' and inserting
``United States Code; and (i) for the protection of Institute
buildings and other plant facilities, equipment, and
property, and of employees, associates, visitors, or other
persons located therein or associated therewith,
notwithstanding any other provision of law.''.
SEC. 6. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15
U.S.C. 271 et seq.) is amended by striking sections 18, 19,
and 19A and inserting the following:
``SEC. 18. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH.
``(a) In General.--The Director may support, promote, and
coordinate activities and efforts to enhance public awareness
and understanding of measurement sciences, standards, and
technology by the general public, industry, and academia in
support of the Institute's mission.
``(b) Research Fellowships.--
``(1) In general.--The Director may award research
fellowships and other forms of financial and logistical
assistance, including direct stipend awards, to--
``(A) students at institutions of higher education within
the United States who show promise as present or future
contributors to the mission of the Institute; and
``(B) United States citizens for research and technical
activities of the Institute.
``(2) Selection.--The Director shall select persons to
receive such fellowships and assistance on the basis of
ability and of the relevance of the proposed work to the
mission and programs of the Institute.
``(3) Definition.--For the purposes of this subsection,
financial and logistical assistance includes, notwithstanding
section 1345 of title 31, United States Code, or any contrary
provision of law, temporary housing and local transportation
to and from the Institute facilities.
``(c) Post-Doctoral Fellowship Program.--The Director shall
establish and conduct a post-doctoral fellowship program,
subject to the availability of appropriations, that shall
include not fewer than 20 fellows per fiscal year. In
evaluating applications for fellowships under this
subsection, the Director shall give consideration to the goal
of promoting the participation of underrepresented students
in research areas supported by the Institute.''.
SEC. 7. PROGRAMMATIC PLANNING REPORT.
Section 23(d) of the National Institute of Standards and
Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278i(d)) is amended by adding at
the end the following: ``The 3-year programmatic planning
document shall also describe how the Director is addressing
recommendations from the Visiting Committee on Advanced
Technology established under section 10.''.
SEC. 8. ASSESSMENTS BY THE NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL.
(a) National Academy of Sciences Review.--Not later than 6
months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director
of the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall
enter into a contract with the National Academy of Sciences
to conduct a single, comprehensive review of the Institute's
laboratory programs. The review shall--
(1) assess the technical merits and scientific caliber of
the research conducted at the laboratories;
(2) examine the strengths and weaknesses of the 2010
laboratory reorganization on the Institute's ability to
fulfill its mission;
(3) evaluate how cross-cutting research and development
activities are planned, coordinated, and executed across the
laboratories; and
(4) assess how the laboratories are engaging industry,
including the incorporation of industry need, into the
research goals and objectives of the Institute.
(b) Additional Assessments.--Section 24 of the National
Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278j) is
amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 24. ASSESSMENTS BY THE NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL.
``(a) In General.--The Institute shall contract with the
National Research Council to perform and report on
assessments of the technical quality and impact of the work
conducted at Institute laboratories.
``(b) Schedule.--Two laboratories shall be assessed under
subsection (a) each year, and each laboratory shall be
assessed at least once every 3 years.
``(c) Summary Report.--Beginning in the year after the
first assessment is conducted under subsection (a), and once
every two years thereafter, the Institute shall contract with
the National Research Council to prepare a report that
summarizes the findings common across the individual
assessment reports.
``(d) Additional Assessments.--The Institute, at the
discretion of the Director, also may contract with the
National Research Council to conduct additional assessments
of Institute programs and projects that involve collaboration
across the Institute laboratories and centers and assessments
of selected scientific and technical topics.
``(e) Consultation With Visiting Committee on Advanced
Technology.--The National Research Council may consult with
the Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology established
under section 10 in performing the assessments under this
section.
``(f) Reports.--Not later than 30 days after the completion
of each assessment, the Institute shall transmit the report
on such assessment to the Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.''.
SEC. 9. HOLLINGS MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP.
Section 25 of the National Institute of Standards and
Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k) is amended to read as
follows:
[[Page H6598]]
``SEC. 25. HOLLINGS MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP.
``(a) Establishment and Purpose.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary, through the Director and,
if appropriate, through other officials, shall provide
assistance for the creation and support of manufacturing
extension centers, to be known as the `Hollings Manufacturing
Extension Centers', for the transfer of manufacturing
technology and best business practices (in this Act referred
to as the `Centers'). The program under this section shall be
known as the `Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership'.
``(2) Affiliations.--Such Centers shall be affiliated with
any United States-based public or nonprofit institution or
organization, or group thereof, that applies for and is
awarded financial assistance under this section.
``(3) Objective.--The objective of the Centers is to
enhance competitiveness, productivity, and technological
performance in United States manufacturing through--
``(A) the transfer of manufacturing technology and
techniques developed at the Institute to Centers and, through
them, to manufacturing companies throughout the United
States;
``(B) the participation of individuals from industry,
institutions of higher education, State governments, other
Federal agencies, and, when appropriate, the Institute in
cooperative technology transfer activities;
``(C) efforts to make new manufacturing technology and
processes usable by United States-based small and medium-
sized companies;
``(D) the active dissemination of scientific, engineering,
technical, and management information about manufacturing to
industrial firms, including small and medium-sized
manufacturing companies;
``(E) the utilization, when appropriate, of the expertise
and capability that exists in Federal laboratories other than
the Institute;
``(F) the provision to community colleges and area career
and technical education schools of information about the job
skills needed in small and medium-sized manufacturing
businesses in the regions they serve; and
``(G) promoting and expanding certification systems offered
through industry, associations, and local colleges, when
appropriate.
``(b) Activities.--The activities of the Centers shall
include--
``(1) the establishment of automated manufacturing systems
and other advanced production technologies, based on
Institute-supported research, for the purpose of
demonstrations and technology transfer;
``(2) the active transfer and dissemination of research
findings and Center expertise to a wide range of companies
and enterprises, particularly small and medium-sized
manufacturers; and
``(3) the facilitation of collaborations and partnerships
between small and medium-sized manufacturing companies and
community colleges and area career and technical education
schools to help such colleges and schools better understand
the specific needs of manufacturers and to help manufacturers
better understand the skill sets that students learn in the
programs offered by such colleges and schools.
``(c) Operations.--
``(1) Financial support.--The Secretary may provide
financial support to any Center created under subsection (a).
The Secretary may not provide to a Center more than 50
percent of the capital and annual operating and maintenance
funds required to create and maintain such Center.
``(2) Regulations.--The Secretary shall implement, review,
and update the sections of the Code of Federal Regulations
related to this section at least once every 3 years.
``(3) Application.--
``(A) In general.--Any nonprofit institution, or consortium
thereof, or State or local government, may submit to the
Secretary an application for financial support under this
section, in accordance with the procedures established by the
Secretary.
``(B) Cost sharing.--In order to receive assistance under
this section, an applicant for financial assistance under
subparagraph (A) shall provide adequate assurances that non-
Federal assets obtained from the applicant and the
applicant's partnering organizations will be used as a
funding source to meet not less than 50 percent of the costs
incurred. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the costs
incurred means the costs incurred in connection with the
activities undertaken to improve the competitiveness,
management, productivity, and technological performance of
small and medium-sized manufacturing companies.
``(C) Agreements with other entities.--In meeting the 50
percent requirement, it is anticipated that a Center will
enter into agreements with other entities such as private
industry, institutions of higher education, and State
governments to accomplish programmatic objectives and access
new and existing resources that will further the impact of
the Federal investment made on behalf of small and medium-
sized manufacturing companies.
``(D) Legal rights.--Each applicant under subparagraph (A)
shall also submit a proposal for the allocation of the legal
rights associated with any invention which may result from
the proposed Center's activities.
``(4) Merit review.--The Secretary shall subject each such
application to merit review. In making a decision whether to
approve such application and provide financial support under
this section, the Secretary shall consider, at a minimum, the
following:
``(A) The merits of the application, particularly those
portions of the application regarding technology transfer,
training and education, and adaptation of manufacturing
technologies to the needs of particular industrial sectors.
``(B) The quality of service to be provided.
``(C) Geographical diversity and extent of service area.
``(D) The percentage of funding and amount of in-kind
commitment from other sources.
``(5) Evaluation.--
``(A) In general.--Each Center that receives financial
assistance under this section shall be evaluated during its
third year of operation by an evaluation panel appointed by
the Secretary.
``(B) Composition.--Each such evaluation panel shall be
composed of private experts, none of whom shall be connected
with the involved Center, and Federal officials.
``(C) Chair.--An official of the Institute shall chair the
panel.
``(D) Performance measurement.--Each evaluation panel shall
measure the involved Center's performance against the
objectives specified in this section.
``(E) Positive evaluation.--If the evaluation is positive,
the Secretary may provide continued funding through the sixth
year.
``(F) Probation.--The Secretary shall not provide funding
unless the Center has received a positive evaluation. A
Center that has not received a positive evaluation by the
evaluation panel shall be notified by the panel of the
deficiencies in its performance and shall be placed on
probation for one year, after which time the panel shall
reevaluate the Center. If the Center has not addressed the
deficiencies identified by the panel, or shown a significant
improvement in its performance, the Director shall conduct a
new competition to select an operator for the Center or may
close the Center.
``(G) Additional financial support.--After the sixth year,
a Center may receive additional financial support under this
section if it has received a positive evaluation through an
independent review, under procedures established by the
Institute.
``(H) Eight-year review.--A Center shall undergo an
independent review in the 8th year of operation. Each
evaluation panel shall measure the Center's performance
against the objectives specified in this section. A Center
that has not received a positive evaluation as a result of an
independent review shall be notified by the Program of the
deficiencies in its performance and shall be placed on
probation for one year, after which time the Program shall
reevaluate the Center. If the Center has not addressed the
deficiencies identified by the review, or shown a significant
improvement in its performance, the Director shall conduct a
new competition to select an operator for the Center or may
close the Center.
``(I) Recompetition.--If a recipient of a Center award has
received financial assistance for 10 consecutive years, the
Director shall conduct a new competition to select an
operator for the Center consistent with the plan required in
this Act. Incumbent Center operators in good standing shall
be eligible to compete for the new award.
``(J) Reports.--
``(i) Plan.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of the NIST Reauthorization Act of 2014, the
Director shall transmit to the Committee on Science, Space,
and Technology of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the
Senate a plan as to how the Institute will conduct reviews,
assessments, and reapplication competitions under this
paragraph.
``(ii) Independent assessment.--The Director shall contract
with an independent organization to perform an assessment of
the implementation of the reapplication competition process
under this paragraph within 3 years after the transmittal of
the report under clause (i). The organization conducting the
assessment under this clause may consult with the MEP
Advisory Board.
``(iii) Comparison of centers.--Not later than 2 years
after the date of enactment of the NIST Reauthorization Act
of 2014, the Director shall transmit to the Committee on
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate a report providing information
on the first and second years of operations for centers
operating from new competitions or recompetition as compared
to longstanding centers. The report shall provide detail on
the engagement in services provided by Centers and the
characteristics of services provided, including volume and
type of services, so that the Committees can evaluate whether
the cost-sharing ratio has an effect on the services provided
at Centers.
``(6) Patent rights.--The provisions of chapter 18 of title
35, United States Code, shall apply, to the extent not
inconsistent with this section, to the promotion of
technology from research by Centers under this section except
for contracts for such specific technology extension or
transfer services as may be specified by statute or by the
Director.
``(7) Protection of center client confidential
information.--Section 552 of title 5, United States Code,
shall apply to the following information obtained by the
Federal
[[Page H6599]]
Government on a confidential basis in connection with the
activities of any participant involved in the Hollings
Manufacturing Extension Partnership:
``(A) Information on the business operation of any
participant in a Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership
program or of a client of a Center.
``(B) Trade secrets possessed by any client of a Center.
``(8) Advisory boards.--Each Center's advisory boards shall
institute a conflict of interest policy, approved by the
Director, that ensures the Board represents local small and
medium-sized manufacturers in the Center's region. Board
Members may not serve as a vendor or provide services to the
Center, nor may they serve on more than one Center's
oversight board simultaneously.
``(d) Acceptance of Funds.--
``(1) In general.--In addition to such sums as may be
appropriated to the Secretary and Director to operate the
Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership, the Secretary
and Director also may accept funds from other Federal
departments and agencies and, under section 2(c)(7), from the
private sector for the purpose of strengthening United States
manufacturing.
``(2) Allocation of funds.--
``(A) Funds accepted from other federal departments or
agencies.--The Director shall determine whether funds
accepted from other Federal departments or agencies shall be
counted in the calculation of the Federal share of capital
and annual operating and maintenance costs under subsection
(c).
``(B) Funds accepted from the private sector.--Funds
accepted from the private sector under section 2(c)(7), if
allocated to a Center, may not be considered in the
calculation of the Federal share under subsection (c) of this
section.
``(e) MEP Advisory Board.--
``(1) Establishment.--There is established within the
Institute a Manufacturing Extension Partnership Advisory
Board (in this subsection referred to as the `MEP Advisory
Board').
``(2) Membership.--
``(A) In general.--The MEP Advisory Board shall consist of
not fewer than 10 members broadly representative of
stakeholders, to be appointed by the Director. At least 2
members shall be employed by or on an advisory board for the
Centers, at least 1 member shall represent a community
college, and at least 5 other members shall be from United
States small businesses in the manufacturing sector. No
member shall be an employee of the Federal Government.
``(B) Term.--Except as provided in subparagraph (C) or (D),
the term of office of each member of the MEP Advisory Board
shall be 3 years.
``(C) Vacancies.--Any member appointed to fill a vacancy
occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which his
predecessor was appointed shall be appointed for the
remainder of such term.
``(D) Serving consecutive terms.--Any person who has
completed two consecutive full terms of service on the MEP
Advisory Board shall thereafter be ineligible for appointment
during the one-year period following the expiration of the
second such term.
``(3) Meetings.--The MEP Advisory Board shall meet not less
than 2 times annually and shall provide to the Director--
``(A) advice on Hollings Manufacturing Extension
Partnership programs, plans, and policies;
``(B) assessments of the soundness of Hollings
Manufacturing Extension Partnership plans and strategies; and
``(C) assessments of current performance against Hollings
Manufacturing Extension Partnership program plans.
``(4) Federal advisory committee act applicability.--
``(A) In general.--In discharging its duties under this
subsection, the MEP Advisory Board shall function solely in
an advisory capacity, in accordance with the Federal Advisory
Committee Act.
``(B) Exception.--Section 14 of the Federal Advisory
Committee Act shall not apply to the MEP Advisory Board.
``(5) Report.--The MEP Advisory Board shall transmit an
annual report to the Secretary for transmittal to Congress
within 30 days after the submission to Congress of the
President's annual budget request in each year. Such report
shall address the status of the program established pursuant
to this section and comment on the relevant sections of the
programmatic planning document and updates thereto
transmitted to Congress by the Director under subsections (c)
and (d) of section 23.
``(f) Competitive Grant Program.--
``(1) Establishment.--The Director shall establish, within
the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership, under this
section and section 26, a program of competitive awards among
participants described in paragraph (2) for the purposes
described in paragraph (3).
``(2) Participants.--Participants receiving awards under
this subsection shall be the Centers, or a consortium of such
Centers.
``(3) Purpose.--The purpose of the program under this
subsection is to add capabilities to the Hollings
Manufacturing Extension Partnership, including the
development of projects to solve new or emerging
manufacturing problems as determined by the Director, in
consultation with the Director of the Hollings Manufacturing
Extension Partnership program, the MEP Advisory Board, and
small and medium-sized manufacturers. One or more themes for
the competition may be identified, which may vary from year
to year, depending on the needs of manufacturers and the
success of previous competitions. Centers may be reimbursed
for costs incurred under the program.
``(4) Applications.--Applications for awards under this
subsection shall be submitted in such manner, at such time,
and containing such information as the Director shall
require, in consultation with the MEP Advisory Board.
``(5) Selection.--Awards under this subsection shall be
peer reviewed and competitively awarded. The Director shall
endeavor to have broad geographic diversity among selected
proposals. The Director shall select proposals to receive
awards that will--
``(A) improve the competitiveness of industries in the
region in which the Center or Centers are located;
``(B) create jobs or train newly hired employees; and
``(C) promote the transfer and commercialization of
research and technology from institutions of higher
education, national laboratories, and nonprofit research
institutes.
``(6) Program contribution.--Recipients of awards under
this subsection shall not be required to provide a matching
contribution.
``(7) Global marketplace projects.--In making awards under
this subsection, the Director, in consultation with the MEP
Advisory Board and the Secretary, may take into consideration
whether an application has significant potential for
enhancing the competitiveness of small and medium-sized
United States manufacturers in the global marketplace.
``(8) Duration.--Awards under this subsection shall last no
longer than 3 years.
``(g) Evaluation of Obstacles Unique to Small
Manufacturers.--The Director shall--
``(1) evaluate obstacles that are unique to small
manufacturers that prevent such manufacturers from
effectively competing in the global market;
``(2) implement a comprehensive plan to train the Centers
to address such obstacles; and
``(3) facilitate improved communication between the Centers
to assist such manufacturers in implementing appropriate,
targeted solutions to such obstacles.
``(h) Definitions.--In this section--
``(1) the term `area career and technical education school'
has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the Carl D.
Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of
2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302); and
``(2) the term `community college' means an institution of
higher education (as defined under section 101(a) of the
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a))) at which
the highest degree that is predominately awarded to students
is an associate's degree.''.
SEC. 10. ELIMINATION OF OBSOLETE REPORTS.
(a) Enterprise Integration Standardization and
Implementation Activities Report.--Section 3 of the
Enterprise Integration Act of 2002 (15 U.S.C. 278g-5) is
amended--
(1) by striking subsection (c); and
(2) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as subsections
(c) and (d), respectively.
(b) TIP Reports.--Section 28 of the National Institute of
Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278n) is amended--
(1) by striking subsection (g); and
(2) in subsection (k), by striking paragraph (5).
SEC. 11. MODIFICATIONS TO GRANTS AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.
Section 8(a) of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation
Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3706(a)) is amended by striking ``The
total amount of any such grant or cooperative agreement may
not exceed 75 percent of the total cost of the program.''.
SEC. 12. INFORMATION SYSTEMS STANDARDS CONSULTATION.
Section 20(c)(1) of the National Institute of Standards and
Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278g-3(c)(1)) is amended by
striking ``the National Security Agency,''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Indiana (Mr. Bucshon) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Swalwell)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Indiana.
General Leave
Mr. BUCSHON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to
include extraneous material on H.R. 5035, the bill now under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Indiana?
There was no objection.
Mr. BUCSHON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
As the chairman of the Subcommittee on Research and Technology, I
would like to thank the full committee chairman, Mr. Smith, the full
committee ranking member, Ms. Johnson, and the subcommittee ranking
member, Mr. Lipinski, for their bipartisan work on this bill.
[[Page H6600]]
This bill reauthorizes the National Institute of Standards and
Technology, also known as NIST. Whether contributing to the technology
of the smoke detector or developing X-ray standards for mammograms,
NIST has had a substantial impact on our Nation's scientific and
technological developments, industry, and economy for over 100 years.
H.R. 5035 authorizes $850 million for NIST in fiscal year 2014 and
$855.8 million in fiscal year 2015. This bill implements changes and
updates to ensure responsible use of taxpayer funds during tight fiscal
times, while still maintaining a competitive edge in the United States.
H.R. 5035 adds language to emphasize NIST's role in advancing our
Nation's technological competitiveness and innovation ability, and
enables more information sharing related to technological standards.
Additionally, this legislation codifies NIST's outreach and education
efforts.
Another critical program in this legislation is the Hollings
Manufacturing Partnership, or MEP. This program provides assistance to
small, U.S.-based manufacturing companies to help identify and adopt
new technologies and manufacturing techniques.
This bill answers a need expressed by the manufacturing community and
changes the existing cost share structure within the MEP program so
that a 1-1 ratio of Federal and matching funds is held throughout the
life of the center.
The bill also includes language to ensure centers are reevaluated and
face a new competition every 10 years.
In my State of Indiana, Purdue University serves as the MEP of our
region. Clabber Girl, a small business I visited in the Eighth District
of Indiana, is a prime example of the important impact MEPs have on our
economy. This manufacturer of baking powder, baking soda, and
cornstarch has utilized Purdue University's Technical Assistance
Program, which has assisted over 12,000 organizations and trained over
26,000 employees since 1986.
I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, as NIST is an
agency critical to the advancement of the United States technology and
scientific industries.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SWALWELL of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as
I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5035, legislation that would
reauthorize the National Institute of Standards and Technology, also
known as NIST.
NIST, founded in 1901, is a nonregulatory Federal agency within the
Department of Commerce. Its mission is to promote U.S. innovation and
competitiveness by advancing measurement science.
H.R. 5035 makes important changes and updates to NIST programs,
including the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, or MEP, program. MEP
centers work with small- and medium-sized U.S. manufacturers and help
them create and retain jobs, increase profits, and save money.
In my district, the 15th Congressional District of California, the
California MEP center helped Plastikon, a plastic and contract
manufacturing company that provides service to medical, automotive, and
electronics industries, revisit its business model after one of its
largest customers shut down. The MEP center supported market research,
strategic planning and training, and lean manufacturing for Plastikon.
The project increased the company sales by 20 percent.
The MEP program has proven to be a very successful public-private
partnership for districts across the country. For every dollar of
investment, the MEP program generates almost $19 in new sales and $21
in new client investment. This totals more than $2 billion in new sales
every year.
H.R. 5035 helps ensure that the MEP program will continue partnering
with the full range of small- and medium-sized manufacturing companies,
helping them to innovate and create jobs here in America.
I was pleased that when this bill was considered as a section of the
FIRST Act in the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, we
worked in a bipartisan manner to make improvements to it. That section,
as improved, is what we are considering today as a stand-alone bill. I
appreciate the majority working with us in this new way.
Although I support the important policy provisions contained in this
bill, I am also a little disappointed by the low authorization level.
NIST is the one of our Nation's most important, yet least known,
agencies. Because of its unrivaled expertise in measurement science,
its unique research facilities, and its strong industry partnerships,
NIST has been asked by Congress and by one administration after another
to take on leadership roles in a number of crosscutting Federal
efforts, from cybersecurity to advanced manufacturing.
To adequately support their mission and work in these critical areas,
the authorization level for NIST should be closer to the President's
fiscal year 2015 budget request and the Senate Commerce, Justice,
Science Appropriations fiscal year 2015 bill. My hope is that when this
bill goes to conference with the Senate we can work on a higher
authorization level for NIST.
That said, H.R. 5035 is an important bill that contains sound policy
provisions that were developed, again, on a bipartisan basis and that
will help ensure NIST's ability to promote U.S. innovation and
competitiveness.
I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BUCSHON. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of H.R.
5035, a bill to reauthorize the National Institute of Standards and
Technology.
I thank Chairman Smith and Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson of
the Science, Space, and Technology House Committee for their work in
advancing innovation and technology that will keep America strong and
competitive into the future.
As a senior member of the House Committee on Homeland Security and
former member of the House Committee on Science, where I served for
many years, I am well acquainted with the important work done by the
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
NIST is the nation's premier entity for development of standards that
govern the level of reliability, security, and operation of most
products sold in the United States and around the world.
Standards development is critical to our nation's leadership in many
manufacturing areas. Businesses large and small look to NIST for
leadership in coordinating the development of voluntary standards in a
wide range of areas that include office equipment, manufacturing
materials, and encryption.
Founded in 1901, NIST is a non-regulatory federal agency within the
U.S. Department of Commerce. NIST's mission is to promote U.S.
innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement
science, standards, and technology in ways that enhance economic
security and improve our quality of life.
NIST carries out its mission through the following programs through
research conducted at:
NIST Laboratories that advance the nation's technology infrastructure
and helps U.S. companies continually improve products and services;
The Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership, a nationwide
network of local centers offering technical and business assistance to
smaller manufacturers to help them create and retain jobs; and
The Baldrige Performance Excellence Program, which promote
performance excellence among U.S. manufacturers, service companies,
educational institutions, health care providers, and nonprofit
organizations.
Houston benefits from NIST's work in a wide range of areas.
Houston is known as the ``Energy Capital of the World'' with almost
half of its economic activity driven by the energy industry. Houston is
home to 40 of the nation's 145 publicly traded oil and gas exploration
and production firms, including 11 of the top 25 as ranked by 2011
total assets.
NIST's fossil fuel Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) continue to be
in high demand by the petroleum industry and the fossil fuel-based
electric utility industries.
The fossil fuel SRM program is now 40 years old, and the current
inventory of fossil fuel reference materials includes coals, cokes,
residual fuel oils, distillates and gasolines.
To support regulatory and industry requirements for reference
materials and standards, NIST produces and maintains a large inventory
of fossil fuel SRMs that are certified for crude oils, gasolines, fuel
oils, and diesel fuels. The program is continually adapting to meet the
rapidly changing needs of the energy sector.
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Houston's diverse workforce boasts a variety of skills and
occupations. From medical professionals and engineers to production
managers and accountants, Houston's labor force fills 2.7 million jobs
and counting.
Houston has a world class medical center that serves the health care
needs of residents and brings to our city people from around the world
for health care.
NIST is responsible for leading the development of the core health IT
testing infrastructure that will provide a scalable, multi-partner,
automated, remote capability for current and future medical technology
testing needs.
The objective of the NIST Health IT Testing Infrastructure Project is
to harmonize the efforts of healthcare standards test development and
delivery to meet the demands for conformance and interoperability
within the healthcare domain.
NIST works in collaboration with health care providers, IT
stakeholders such as vendors, implementers, standards organizations and
certification bodies to establish a testing infrastructure that will:
Provide a variety of testing services;
Support a broad range of test environments;
Support numerous health data standards;
Provide a component-based user interface;
Support changing user requirements;
Leverage existing testing initiatives;
Provide a method for feedback so that health standards can be
improved; and
Roll out tools and resources incrementally.
Houston also hosts universities, research institutions and agencies
that rely upon NIST's core areas of work including:
Bioscience Health;
Building and Fire Research;
Chemistry;
Electronics & Communications;
Energy;
Environment and Climate;
Information Technology;
Manufacturing;
Mathematics;
Nanotechnology;
Neuro Research; and
Physics.
NIST's work touches the lives of every person in the United States
from the smart electric power grid and electronic health records to
atomic clocks, advanced nanomaterials, and computer chips, innumerable
products and services rely in some way on the work of this small
agency.
I ask that my colleagues join me in support this reauthorization of
NIST and that we work together to end the impact on Sequestration on
NIST programs.
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleague,
Chairman of the Research and Technology Subcommittee, Larry Bucshon, in
support of the reauthorization of the National Institute of Standards
and Technology (NIST).
Measurement science conducted at NIST contributes to industrial
competitiveness by supporting the technical infrastructure for
advancements in nanotechnology, global positioning systems, materials
sciences, cybersecurity, health information technology, and a variety
of other fields.
Research conducted at NIST laboratories has been lauded by
independent review panels as being among the best in the world. NIST
researchers have been awarded four Nobel prizes in Physics in the last
15 years.
H.R. 5035 codifies education and outreach efforts at NIST and
requires a comprehensive review of the NIST laboratory programs by the
National Academy of Sciences.
This bill authorizes just over $855 million dollars for NIST in
Fiscal Year 2015, this funding level is consistent with the House
passed Appropriations bill.
NIST works alongside industry and is recognized as a provider of
high-quality information utilized by the private sector. H.R. 5035
reauthorizes the work of this important agency at responsible funding
levels.
I encourage my colleagues to support this bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Bucshon) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 5035.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________